Boiler mounting



p 4, 1956 F. w. SCHAEFER 2,761,430

BOILER MOUNTING Filed Sept. 22, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l 2B 3, 20 Lwfllll 22 "III". 10

United States Patent BOILER MOUNTING Frank W. Schaefer, Dayton, ()hio Application September 22, 1952, Serial No. 310,876

12 Claims. (Cl. 122-510) This invention relates to a fire box boiler assembly and more particularly to the relative position of the boiler with respect to the fire box such that the condition of the boiler in one of the most vulnerable areas may be readily inspected, although not necessarily so limited.

In the boiler art it has been common practice in many installations to use a fire box that is made from a wall of brick lined with fire brick, the boiler resting directly on top of the brick wall. The exterior of the boiler may be encased or it may be covered with an insulating material, such as asbestos, or it may be exposed. When inspecting a boiler, the inspectors will check along the foot of the boiler for evidence of moisture. In the fall of the year when the boiler has not been used during the summer period, moisture, or evidence of moisture may have no particular significance, in that condensation may take place on the exposed areas of the boiler and the parts associated therewith and this condensation may be drawn in between the top of the wall and the foot of the boiler by capillary attraction. This is objectionable, even though it may not indicate a leak, in that moisture in the presence of iron and calcium or mortar results in rapid erosion and, under certain conditions, electrolysis. There is no way for the inspector to determine the source of this moisture, Whether it comes from condensation or it is a result of a leak, in that the moisture has the appearance of seeping out between the foot of the boiler and the top of the brick wall.

An object of this invention is to arrange the boiler upon supports, the foot of the boiler being arranged in spaced relation from the upper margin of the fire box so that the inspector may inspect the entire under side of the foot of the boiler from the outside, in that the foot of the boiler is in plain view of the inspector. Thus, the inspector may readily ascertain the condition of the foot of the boiler throughout the entire periphery, excepting possibly small areas where the boiler is supported. This has been accomplished by providing a fire box wherein the top of the wall terminates in spaced relation from the foot of the boiler, excepting for a flange projecting upwardly on the inside of the boiler, the boiler being supported upon suitable supports or legs engaging only a small area, if any, directly under the foot of the boiler, so that there is an opening or slot formed beneath the foot of the boiler, permitting inspection of the boiler throughout the entire bottom of the foot, with the exception of small areas where it may be supported without tearing away part of the fire bricks on which the boiler is supported, or otherwise dismantling the fire box for the purpose of inspection.

Another object of this invention is to provide a fabricated fire box provided with legs in the corners thereof consisting of angle bars so arranged that the boiler is mounted upon jack screws supported upon the legs, the top wall of the fire box terminating in spaced relation from the foot of the boiler, with the exception of the 2,761,430 Patented Sept. 4, 19 56 ice 2 fire box lining which projects inwardly and overlaps the inner side of the boiler. Another object of this invention is to provide a fire box boiler assembly such that an opening is provided beneath the foot of the boiler for inspecting the under side of the boiler throughout the periphery of the boiler.

Other objects and advantages reside in the construction of parts, the combination thereof and the mode of operation, as will become more apparent from the following description.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the fire box.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the fire box shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view, taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary, vertical, cross sectional view of a modification, wherein the arrangement of the boiler and the fire box is similar to that taken on the line 44 of Figure 2, having added thereto an external support.

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view, taken substantially on the line 5--5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary, perspective view of the upper end of a leg or a support for the boiler, having the jack screw removed, which leg or support forms a corner for the fire box assembly.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary, cross sectional view, taken substantially on the line 7-7 of Figure 9.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a modified bracket, adapted for use with an angle bar to form a leg.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary, top plan view of a corner of a fire box, as seen before the boiler is mounted in position.

Referring to the drawings, the fire box assembly may be referred to as a composite fire box assembly. This fire box assembly includes the corner legs 10, one in each corner. These corner legs consist of angle bars mounted upon suitable bases 12. Transversely disposed angle bars 14 and 16 extend along the lengthand the width of the fire box along the bottom. Members 14 and 16 are joined to the legs 10 in any suitable manner, by welding, riveting or by the use of screws, depending entirely upon the nature of the installation. Substantially Z-shaped bars 22 extend longitudinally between the upper portions of the legs 10 and are secured to the jack plates 24, one on the inside corner of each leg. These jack plates may project beyond the flanges of the legs, as clearly shown in Figures 6 and 9, and are provided with apertures 26, adapted to receive bolts for securing the Z-bars 22 in position. A Z-bar 30 extends across the rear end and is attached to the jack plates .24. Each of the jack plates 24 is provided with a threaded aperture 32 adapted to receive a jack screw 34, which will be described more fully later.

The side and end walls of the fire box consist of ver tically disposed V-groove sheet metal plates 40, each having a plurality of V-grooves 42 that function to stiffen the plates and at the same time provide air pockets between the plates 40 and the corrugated sheet iron wall members 44 having the corrugations horizontally disposed, so as to provide a number of air pockets throughout the periphery of the fire box.

Suitable insulating boards or blocks 46 are mounted on the inside of the corrugated sheets or plates 40 and extend downwardly from the bottom of the Z-bar 22. The inner side of the insulating boards or blocks 46 is fiush with the upwardly directed flange 48 of the. 2- bar 22. The insulating boards or blocks 46 are provided with anchor members 50, spaced at periodic intervals throughout the entire length and height of the side walls and the back end wall of the fire box.

The boiler is provided with legs, each terminating in a foot 69, as shown in Figure 4. The legs are mounted or supported upon the jack screws 34. The jack screws may be adjusted so as to level the boiler. For small boilers this is the only support provided for the boiler, namely, the four corners of the boiler are supported. As may be clearly seen in Figure 4, a space 62 is provided between the foot 60 of the boiler and the horizontal portion of the Z-bar 22, leaving an opening for the inspection of the boiler. This opening extends throughout the sides, the rear and the front, when needed.

Larger boilers may require additional supports or sup- ;ports independent of the jack screws. This may be accomplished by the use of angle bars or angle brackets 70, as shown in Figure 4, secured to the outer side walls 01' the boiler by welding, or otherwise, and supported vuponsuitable legs 72. These may be H-beams, as shown in Figure 4, or they may be I-beams, or any other configuration. Suitable gusset plates 74 are used to reinforce the angle bars or brackets 76. The legs 72 are arranged in spaced relation from each other, the number depending upon the size and weight of the boiler 'andthe specifications of the particular installation.

After the boiler has been mounted in position, the fire box may be lined with a plastic insulating material 80, such as sold in the trade under the trade name of Plibrico.

In order to provide a seal between the top of the Z-bar 22 and the foot of the boiler 60, an asbestos rope 150 is packed between the corner of the boiler 60 and the top of the Z-bar 22. A plurality of anchors 152, mounted upon uprights 154 attached to the margin of the Z-bar 22, retain the lining in contact with the inside of the foot of the boiler, as clearly shown in Figure 4.

As may readily be seen from an inspection of Figures 4 and 5, the bottom of the leg of the boiler may be inspected throughout the entire periphery thereof without interference from the fire box. By this arrangement, the condition of the boiler may be readily ascertained without removing any parts and without any guess-work as to the condition of the bottom of the legs of the boiler.

In Figure 8 a -modified jack plate has been shown. 'This jack plate includes a cast member 189 having a horizontally disposed plate portion 81 provided with apertures 82 for use in attaching the Z-bars, or the equivalent, and a threaded jack screw hole 84. Upwardly and downwardly directed flange portions 86 and 88 respectively, are integral with the plate portion 81. The upwardly directed flange portions 86 are each provided with an'outwardly directed projection 94, adapted -to'engage the top of an angle bar 92, having substantially the same contour as the angle bar 10, without having welded'thereto 'a jack plate 24. Suitable apertures 90 "are used for bolting the cast member 180 to an angle bar 92, functioning as a leg. This arrangement permits "the-manufacture of the castings 180 that may be cast at a foundry and subsequently finished and shipped to the destination and there assembled with angle bars 92 cut to'the proper contour that may be acquired on the local market.

As may best be seen by referring to Figures 1, 2, and 6, the upper corner of each leg 16 is cut at an angle to provide a corner inspection opening. The cast bracket 180 has a corner opening 102, registering with the corner opening 100 in the post or leg 10.

'Although the preferred embodiment of the device has been described, it will be understood that Within the 'purview'of this invention various changes may be made in the form, details, proportion and arrangement of parts, the combination thereof and mode of operation, which generally stated consist in a device capable of carrying out the objects set forth, as disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1.In a boiler firebox assembly, wherein the lower portion of the boiler terminates in a leg portion, said fire box having walls the portion of the wall underlying the leg portion of the boiler terminating in spaced relation from the bottom of the leg portion of the boiler, said fire box including lining material extending upwardly to contact the inside of the lower portion of the leg portion of the boiler, and means for supporting the boiler at spaced intervals so as to leave the entire bottom of the leg portion exposed for inspection from the exterior.

2. in a boiler fire box assembly according to claim 1, wherein the means for supporting the boiler at spaced intervals includes legs, and members engaging the boiler for supporting the boiler upon the legs.

3. In a boiler fire box assembly according to claim 1, wherein the means for supporting the boiler at spaced intervals includes legs spaced at each corner of the fire box, each of said legs consisting of an angle iron, a jack plate fixedly attached to the angle iron, said jack plate having a threaded aperture, and a jack screw threadedly engaging the threaded aperture for supporting the corner of the boiler, the jack screws being adjustable for leveling the boiler.

4. In a boiler fire box assembly according to claim 1, wherein the means for supporting the boiler at spaced intervals so as to leave the entire bottom of the leg portion of the boiler exposed for inspection from the exterior includes angle iron legs, the upper portion of each flange of the angle iron legs being cut at an angle so as to have the portion of the flanges remote from the corner of the angle iron legs projecting upwardly, each of said angle iron legs including a jack plate member fixedly attached to the flanges of the angle iron leg, said jack plate member having a threaded aperture therein, said jack plate member being located on a level substantially equal to the portion of the wall terminating in spaced relation from the bottom of the leg portion of the boiler, and a jack screw threadedly engaging the jack plate member, said jack screw engaging the under side of the boiler to support the boiler in spaced rela tion from the underlying portion of the fire box.

5. In a boiler fire box assembly wherein the lower portion of the boiler terminates in a leg portion, said fire box including walls surrounding at least three sides of the fire box, each of said walls including an outer portion and an inner portion, the outer portion underlying the leg portion of the boiler and terminating in spaced relation therefrom, a horizontal plate forming the upper boundary of said outer portion, said plate merging into an upwardly directed flange portion engaging the lower inner margin of \the leg portion of the boiler, the inner portion of each fire box wall including firebox lining material lining the'outer wall portion and lining the upwardly directed flange and overlapping the lower margin of the inner side of the boiler, and means for supporting the boiler so that the legportionof the boiler is arranged in spaced relation from the upper portion of the outer wall of the fire box so as to provide a channel-shaped opening around at least three sides of the boiler for inspection of the entire bottom of the leg portion of the boiler.

6. In a boiler fire box assembly, the lower portion of the boiler terminating in a leg portion, the bottom of which is horizontally disposed, said fire box including four legs arranged at the corners of the fire box, each leg consisting of an angle bar extending upwardly from the base of the fire box so that the upper portions of the extremities of the flanges overlap a portion ofthe exterior of the leg portion of the boiler, each of the legs including a horizontally disposed jack plate welded to the flanges of the leg, said jack plates having threaded apertures, a plurality of jack screws threadedly engaging the threaded apertures in the jack plates for supporting the boiler in spaced relation from the jack plates, apl-urality of Z-bars spanning the distance on three sides of Z-bars being fixedly attached to the jack plates, each of said Z-bars including a horizontal portion arranged below and in spaced relation from the lower leg portion of the boiler, the horizontal portion of the Z-bar merging into a downwardly projecting outer flange and an upwardly directed inner flange spanning the distance between the horizontal portion of the Z-bar and the lower portion of the leg portion of the boiler, said upwardly directed flange contacting the inner margin of the leg portion of the boiler, said fire box including outer wall portions underlying the horizontal portions of the Z-bars and extending from leg to leg on three sides of the fire box, said fire box including a fire box lining lining the outer wall portions and the upwardly directed flange of the Z-bar and overlapping a portion of the lower margin of the leg portion of the boiler, the under side of the bottom of the leg portion of the boiler and the horizontal portion of the Z-bar forming a channel permitting inspection of the lower leg portion of the boiler from the exterior of the boiler.

7. In a boiler fire box assembly according to claim 6, wherein brackets are welded to the outer portion of the legs of the boiler, and auxiliary legs forming auxiliary Supports for the boiler, said auxiliary legs being mounted so as to engage the under side of said brackets to support the boiler.

8. In a boiler fire box assembly wherein the boiler includes a downwardly projecting leg portion, the bottom of which is horizontally disposed, said fire box including a plurality of L-shaped legs, there being one leg for each corner, the underside of the boiler being spaced from said fire box by providing each of said legs with a jack plate having a threaded aperture, a plurality of Z-bars extending between pairs of legs and fixedly attached to the jack plates, a plurality of horizontally disposed L-bars connecting the base of adjacent pairs of legs, sheet metal plates having vertically disposed V-grooves, said plates extending between adjacent legs and spanning the distance from the Z-bar to the horizontally disposed angle bar, insulating material mounted inside the sheet metal panels and terminating on the under side of the Z-bar, the Z-bar having a horizontally disposed portion arranged in spaced relation from the bottom of the leg portion of the boiler, said Z-ba-r having a vertically disposed flange extending upwardly and contacting the lower inner margin of the leg portion of the boiler, and a fire box lining material lining the in- 6 side of the fire box, said lining material extending upwardly on the inside of the flange and contacting the inside of the leg portion of the boiler.

9. A jack plate including a horizontally plate portion having upwardly directed flanges extending along two adjacent sides of the plate portion, each of the flanges having an outwardly directed projection, said plate portion having a threaded jack screw aperture.

10. A jack plate according to claim 1%1, wherein the upwardly directed flanges form a corner, said flanges have angularly disposed adjacent sides so as to form a V-shaped opening in the corner between the flanges.

11. An angle bar leg assembly for supporting the leg portion of a boiler, said leg assembly including the combination of a vertically disposed angle bar, with a horizontally disposed jack plate fixedly attached to the angle bar at the top thereof, said jack plate including a horizontal plate portion having upwardly directed flanges extending along the flanges of the angle bar, each of the flanges of the jack plate having an outwardly directed projection extending over the top of the angle bar, said horizontal plate portion having a threaded jack screw aperture for receiving means adapted to adjustably support the leg portion of said boiler.

12. An angle bar leg assembly for use in supporting a boiler having a leg portion, said angle bar leg assembly including a vertically disposed angle bar having flanges thereon, a jack plate having a threaded aperture and fixedly secured at the top of the angle bar, said jack plate including a horizontal plate portion having upwardly directed flanges extending along the side flanges of the angle bar, each of the flanges of said jack plate having an outwardly directed projection extending over the top of the angle bar, and a jack screw threadedly engaging said threaded aperture adapted to support said leg portion of said boiler.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 101,428 Card Apr. 5, 1870 425,486 Bennett Apr. 15, 1890 831,399 Wolf Sept. 18, 1906 929,927' Finch Aug. 3, 1909 1,147,975 Ruff July 27, 1915 1,447,212 Kerr Mar. 6, 1923 2,160,803 Goerg May 30, 1939 2,186,803 Goerg Jan. 9, 1940 2,305,870 Haberstump Dec. 22, 1942 

